Magoffin's six gives Warriors the upper hand

Western Australia 265 and 0 for 52 need a further 171 to beat New South Wales 177 and 310 (Thornely 97, Mail 77, Magoffin 6-66)Scorecard

Steve Magoffin's first ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket ensured a gettable chase for Western Australia despite defiant half-centuries from Greg Mail and Dominic Thornely. Magoffin followed up his first-innings collection with a six-wicket haul that left the Warriors chasing 223 and by the close they made an excellent start with Liam Davis on 30 and Shaun Marsh on 10.

Resuming on 2 for 62, New South Wales lost their nightwatchman Beau Casson in the second over to Magoffin before Thornely joined Mail for a crucial 78-run stand. The Warriors could have ended the association earlier had Brett Dorey held on to a regulation catch off Thornely at gully four balls after lunch. Thornely was on 16 at that time and the Warriors didn't see the back of him until he had added 81 more.

Marcus North broke the stand when he had Mail caught by Dorey for a patient 77 off 213 balls. Steve Smith was bowled soon after by Magoffin with the score on 175 and the Blues were in a spot of bother. Thornely was involved in another crucial stand, this time yielding 81 with Grant Lambert and the lower order supported the captain to extend the lead past 200.

Thornely fell three short of a century as he edged to Adam Voges at first slip off the debutant Arron Crawford and Magoffin cleaned up the tail to finish with 6 for 66 and match figures of 10 for 102. With both openers still at the crease, the Warriors had the upper hand ahead of an intriguing final day on a pitch that had offered something for batsmen and bowlers alike.

Much like the proceedings at the Gabba, the opening day of the Sheffield Shield season witnessed another top-order collapse, this time at the WACA as New South Wales were bundled out for a disappointing 177